Box-fastener.



ITO- 897,837. PATENTEUSEPT. 1, 1908.

ELENKEY 6: J. SZALAY.

BOX FASTENER.

APPLIOATION FILED MAY 12, 1908.

4 l/V NTORSI ATTORNEY 5 1n: NORRIS PETERS co., wAsmuunm, n. c.

FRANK LENKEY AND JOSEPH SZALAY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

BOX-FASTENER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 1, 1908.

Application filed May 12, 1908. Serial No. 432,425.

Hungary, and residents of the city of New York, in the county of NewYork and. State of New York, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Box-Fasteners, of which the following is aspecification.

The present invention relates to looks for receptacles, and moreparticularly to a de vice of this general character, having means forautomatically permitting the hinged cover of a box or receptacle to beclosed, but not to let it open unless its latch or bolt is withdrawn bymeans which are not generally known to the public, but only to theproprietor of the receptacle.

The object of the invention is to provide a lock of this generalcharacter of a simple and inexpensive nature and of a compact, strong,and durable structure having as few parts as possible.

Another object of the invention is, as mentioned hereinbefore, toprovide a lock of such a character, whereby the box or receptacle can beopened only by a person knowing the location and mode of operation ofthe latch-operating mechanism.

The invention consists in certain novel features of the construction,combination and arrangement of the several parts of the improved lock,whereby certain important advantages are attained, and the device isrendered simpler, cheaper, and otherwise better adapted and moreconvenient for use.

More particularly, the invention consists of a latch, being under thetension of a spring that drives it in the keeper, when the cover of thereceptacle is closed, and which may be withdrawn by means of alatch-operating mechanism, arranged on the receptacle, or moreparticularly on the cover of the same, so that the outer surface of thisoperating mechanism coincides with the outer surface of thereceptacle,whereby it becomes rather di'flicult to find the same by aperson not knowing its location.

The invention is illustrated in .the accompanying drawings, in whichFigure 1 is a perspective view showing a box or case provided with theimproved lock, constructed according to the present invention. Fig. 2 isa front view of the lock, and Fig. 3 a section taken on line 33 of Fig.1.

As shown in the drawings, the lock is applied to a receptacle or boxhaving the shape of a book, and consisting of a receptacle or bodyportion 1 of elongated rectangular form with an open top, and a cover 2of a similar configuration and secured to said body portion by means ofhinges 3, 3 in suchamanner as to permit said cover to swing freely openor to be closed. Obviously this receptacle and cover may be made of anydesired suitable material, as for instance of wood or metal.

The improved lock is shown in detail in Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawingsand consists of a latch bolt 4, made preferably of a wire of suitablethickness and length and slidably arranged in a groove 5 of the cover 2.latch bolt shoots into a keeper 6, secured to one of the side walls ofthe receptacle 1, and consisting of an L-shaped member 7, secured to thereceptacle by means of screws 8, 8, and provided with a hole 9 which isengaged by the latch bolt 4, when the box is closed. It is obvious thatthe keeper may be made in any other suitable manner and arranged on thebox in a manner well known in the art, it being essential that a recessor hole should be formed thereon, into which the latch bolt may bedriven.

The latch bolt 4 is pivoted to a lever 10 at 11, the free end of thelever being pivoted at 12 to the cover 2 of the box. This lever 10 isarranged in a triangular groove 13, so that it may swing around itspivot 12, but is normally kept against a block 14 by means of a spring15, which latter forces the lever and the block 14 against the pushbutton 16, operating the lock.

The push button and the block are located in a recess 17 of the cover 2,the push button being adapted to move at right angles to the outersurface of the box, while the block 14 is capable of sliding in therecess 17 parallel to the surface of the cover. For this urpose the pushbutton consists of a circu a1 disk 16, having its outer end 16 reducedin di ameter and snugly fitting a hole 18 of the cover 2. The disk 16 istapered toward its periphery at 19 and normally rests on the taperedsurface 20 of the block 14. The parts of the lock, arranged on the cover2, are kept thereon by a plate 22, secured to the cover 1n any suitablemanner.

The operation of the invention will be readily understood. When it isdesired to This open the box, the operator presses the push til the boxis entirely closed, when the spring button 16 inward, whereby thetapered surface 19 of the same will slide on the tapering surface 20 ofthe block 14, and thus move the same in the recess 17 toward the spring15, whereby the lever is swung around its pivot and thus the latch 4disengaged with its keeper. In order to make the opening of the boxautomatic, a spring 23 is placed into a recess 24, arranged in one ofthe side walls of the receptacle 1, which spring acts against a pin 25sliding in this recess. This pin is on its inner end provided with anenlarged por tion 26, againstwhioh the spring 23 bears,

and is guided by a cover plate 27, covering the recess 24 and beingprovided with a hole 28, through which the pin 25 projects. Normally,that is when the box is closed, the cover 2 of thesame keeps the pin 25in the recess and keeps thus the spring 23 compressed. As soon as thelatch bolt is withdrawn, the spring 23 acts, forcing the pin 25 outwardand opening thereby the box. The box being opened, spring acts upon thelever 10 and brings thus the block 14 and the push button 15 back to itsnormal position. In order to close the box, it is necessary to press thecover 2 against the receptacle 1, and since the end 4 o'f'the latch bolt4 is tapered, this latter will first bear against the L-shaped keeperand be pushed inwardly un- 15 drives the latch bolt into its keeper.

l/Vhat we claim is:

1. In a lock, the combination with a keeper, of a latch bolt adapted toengage the same, an oscillating lever connected to said latch bolt, apush button, an intermediate member between said lever and said pushbutton, and a resilient means keeping said bar and said intermediatemember in operative engagement with said push button and said latch boltin engagement with said keeper.

2. In a lock, the combination with a keeper, of a latch bolt engagingthe same, an oscillating lever connected to said latch bolt, a pushbutton having an inclined lower surface, an intermediate member betweensaid. push button and said bar and having an inclined surface bearingagainst the similar surface of said push button, and a spring keepingsaid bar and said intermediate member in operative engagement with saidpush button and said latch bolt in engagement with said keeper.

Signed at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York,this th day of April, A. D. 1908.

FRANK LENKEY.

JOSEPH SZALAY.

Witnesses:

SIGMUND HERZOG, S. BIRNBAUM.

